Announcing Geeks OUT

Released on 12/16/2010

Comic conventions draw giant crowds for a number of reasons: For some, it’s a chance to dress up as their heroes and read, game and gawk at passers-by; for others, cons are a serious networking opportunity or a chance to check out emerging work in a vital art form. But while everyone’s got a unique reason for attending a con, they’re all ultimately seeking the same thing: community.

GeeksOUT was founded in recognition of the ever-growing LGBT presence within that community. The creation of five gay fanboys, GeeksOUT seeks to raise queer visibility within the worlds of comics and gaming, and to provide LGBT-friendly spaces (both virtual and real) where geeks and gamers can feel creative, empowered and safe.

Our website, geeksout.org—which is already up and running—will soon feature articles and a blog focusing on LGBT views on pop culture and the comics industry. The site will also host information on our events, fund-raisers and outreach projects. For the latest news, you can follow us @GeeksOUT on Twitter and on Facebook.

But ultimately, the goal of GeeksOUT is to get queer nerds out from behind the keyboard and mixing it up in the real world. To that end, our first major goal is securing a booth at 2011 New York Comic Con, an annual event that gathers more than 79,000 fans of comics, sci-fi, and gaming. In addition to creating an LGBT-positive space on the convention floor—showcasing the work of queer creators and queer-friendly comics—GeeksOUT will host discussion panels and signings with artists and creators from the comics and gaming industries. All of this adds up to an unprecedented forum for dialogue and outreach.

January 22 sees the first GeeksOUT fundraiser at Vlada (331 West 51st Street between 8th and 9thAvenues, (212) 974-8030), featuring a geek-tastic auction and raffle prizes, drink specials, and superhero mayhem courtesy of Skin Tight USA, NYC’s premiere fetish party for the costume community.